A Sad Anniversary In Music History: Remembering Elvis Presley

CONNECTICUT — Today is Aug. 16, one of the saddest days in popular music history. It was on this date 47 years ago that the world lost an entertainment icon, arguably the first major rock and roll star, a near-demigod known simply as "The King" who is still worshipped by millions nearly half a century after his death.

Elvis Presley was just 42 years old when he was found dead on a bathroom floor inside his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tenn. His sudden passing shocked the world, as he was about to embark on a national tour two days later, beginning in Portland, Maine.

Connecticut fans were eagerly awaiting his scheduled appearance at the Hartford Civic Center on Aug. 21.

Unused tickets for that Hartford appearance, priced at $12.50, occasionally pop up for sale online, and have been known to sell for more than a hundred dollars. In fact, a used ticket stub from his only concert in the capital city, on July 28, 1976, currently has a starting bid price of $49.99 on eBay.

Elvis only performed twice in Connecticut prior to his Hartford show, appearing in back-to-back concerts at the now-defunct New Haven Coliseum on July 16-17, 1975.

His musical legacy is undeniable: 18 songs that topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 80 Top 40 hits and 10 Number One albums. He also starred in 31 feature films - some good, some unwatchable - with female co-stars including Barbara Eden, Angela Lansbury, Ann-Margret, Barbara Stanwyck, Nancy Sinatra and Mary Tyler Moore.

Much like the John F. Kennedy assassination a generation earlier, most people over age 55 remember where they were when they heard the news of Presley's death. Patch would like to hear comments from readers about their memories of "The King," and what is their favorite Elvis song. Email your thoughts to [email protected].